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A Kiss in Time

by Alex Flinn (Goodreads Author)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 10,300 ratings · 1,290 reviews

Talia fell under a spell...Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic...

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.

I...more

Hardcover, 371 pages

Published April 28th 2009 by HarperTeen

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Nov 09, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

When Jack escaped for the summer on a trip around Europe, he never dreamed he would be pulled into a real-life fairy tale.

His main goal in agreeing to the numbingly dull tour of European museums was to avoid an even more boring summer working in his father's company. Both his father and mother think he is a lazy slacker without any real interests. What they don't know is that Jack has an interest, but he knows that as the son of a...more Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

When Jack escaped for the summer on a trip around Europe, he never dreamed he would be pulled into a real-life fairy tale.

His main goal in agreeing to the numbingly dull tour of European museums was to avoid an even more boring summer working in his father's company. Both his father and mother think he is a lazy slacker without any real interests. What they don't know is that Jack has an interest, but he knows that as the son of a successful business family, they will not approve of his future plans.

After weeks of museum tours, Jack and his friend, Travis, decide to skip out on the tour group and head for the beach. They take a wrong turn and end up sneaking through a thick hedge hoping to find the illusive beach, but instead they end up in a strange place that seems lost in time. As they explore, they stumble across some of the residents of the area, only to find them fast asleep.

When they arrive at the main gates to a huge castle, they begin to wonder exactly what is going on. Inside the castle they find the same situation - everyone is fast asleep. Life seems to have suddenly halted for these people, leaving them in the middle of whatever activity or task that had kept them busy before their sudden slumber.

Jack and Travis find their way to an isolated area of the castle and are surprised to discover a beautiful young girl sleeping peacefully. Travis is more interested in returning to the throne room and snatching the crown jewels, and Jack gladly sends him off. Jack is fascinated by the sleeping girl whose beauty is astonishing. He can't help himself. He bends and gently kisses her soft lips. Suddenly, she's awake!

By now readers will recognize the similarities to Sleeping Beauty, but what they don't know yet is that they are in for some great adventures.

Imagine being awakened by a stranger's kiss and learning you've slept for three-hundred years. The world doesn't even know your country exists, and you don't have a clue that things like cars, buses, airplanes, cell phones, and televisions are now the norm. Princess Talia believes Jack must be her true love, but at seventeen, he's pretty sure she must be wrong.

Alex Flinn, author of YA books like BREATHING UNDERWATER and BEASTLY, has a new treat for her fans. She puts a unique twist on fairy tale retelling - by connecting the past and present as Jack and Talia struggle through problems created by their strange meeting and their own personal family struggles as young teens trying to find their own direction in life.
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Feb 11, 2012 Jemimah Abigail rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book because I liked Beastly so much. I finished that book in exactly one day. However, it took me quite some time to finish A Kiss in Time. Well, two days, maybe? But that was because I wasn’t reading it every second of the day. Well, yeah.

I really enjoyed this book mainly because it was based on Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney Princess. So yeah. I was sooo excited to read this.

And it turns out it was the right type of excitement! :) The reason I posted THAT c...more

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Nov 16, 2010 Anne Osterlund rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Talia is a spoiled brat, AKA princess, who disobeyed her parents’ warning three hundred years ago, touched a spindle, and sent her country into a three century comatose state. Jack is slacker—stuck on a European tour, sick of museums, and intent on finding the beach. Instead he finds Talia, kisses her, and winds up with Her Royal Highness in tow on a fast getaway from the dungeon and a quick flight to Miami.

Not exactly a match made in a fairy tale.

But somehow Talia, with Jack, isn’t so spoiled.

A...more

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May 05, 2013 YAL Book Briefs rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who think Disney Movies are Accurate Portrayals of History

Recommended to YAL Book Briefs by: Myself

Shelves: annoying-heroines, anti-feminist, attempted-infantcide, bad-body-image, ballgowns, barely-finished, cliches, could-ve-been-great, cringe-worthy-covers, doesn-t-do-their-research, dumb-ass-heroines, easy-read, face-palm, fairytale-retellings, i-m-in-the-mood-to-snark, impulsive-stupid, insta-luv, it-had-so-much-potential-but, just-not-my-thing, meh-characters, oh-bother, princess, sexist-piece-of-shit, useless-characters, witches, yawn

To see full review click here.

Sleeping Beauty.

No, I'm not talking about the Disney movie. Though I have to say that movie is kick ass if for anything the artwork. Yeah, Aurora is a bit of a Mary Sue (okay, a lot), but the villain and the faeries make up for it. Not to mention, Prince Phillip is the first Disney prince that is sort of not a man-cessory. But we're not talking about the Disney movie.

Unfortunately.

Instead, we're talking about Alex Flinn's Sleeping Beauty retelling, A Kiss in Time.

I...more

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May 30, 2009 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sleepingbeauty, fairy-tale, fantasy, young-adult

Yep, finally someone thought of this. And it works, actually. The scenes with Talia feel like a Jessica Day George novel, which I enjoyed a lot because I like my girly-princess stories. Jack and his family, on the other hand, provided a stark contrast. Talia and Jack together equal an enchanting love story.

Alex Flinn goes a little beyond what Disney was able to achieve in their movie Enchanted, by addressing the issue of teen girls and their desperation for beauty and attention from boys. Inste...more

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May 16, 2013 Kayla Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

Talia had been asleep in her castle for about 300 years. One day she was woken up by a kiss, from a stranger. When she woke up, she was in the same place, but definitely not the same time. A curse had been put apon her, which meant she had to stay with this guy Jack. He thought she was a very pretty girl, so of coarse he didn't mind. This story is about the adventure they have together, trying to get Talia to fit in with the new world she had woke up to, and getting through the castle and curse...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 07, 2013 Shannelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Basically, A Kiss in Time is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Talia was a princess who was shilded from the outside world because her parents feared that the curse she recieved when she was a baby would be fulfilled.It did happen, and this is where Jack comes in. He's a modern American teen, and when he ditched his European tour group, he stumbled upon Euphrasia, Talia's country. As said in the summary, he found the sleeping princess and kissed her. She woke up, and then the rest of the book is w...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Jessica Hutchison rated it 1 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book for several reasons:

1. The writing was too simplistic and, while technically correct, was not interesting

2. I hated the main male character. Even though he supposedly goes through a character arc, I did not ever feel any sympathy for him. Perhaps it was because his reactions were not believable.

3. The characters were not well-defined. I think the chapters had to be labeled with the character names because it would have been difficult to tell from whose viewpoint it was wr...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Evelyn rated it 1 of 5 stars

The premise for this book is good, but unfortunately, it has a horrible execution. The writing is awful—awkward, unrealistic dialogue; pathetic attempts to seem “young, hip, and cool”; and references or comparisons that frankly just made me cringe (“her skin is the color of milk with just the tiniest bit of strawberry Nesquik mixed in”). There is a lack of meaningful and cohesive character development, and the most believable part of the plot is that the whole kingdom fell asleep for 300 years....more

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Nov 23, 2012 Suad Shamma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, 2011

This story was such an easy read that captivated me from the start. I had started off reading this story just before dinner, and thought I would just read a couple of chapters while I waited for dinner to be ready, but instead found myself reading and not wanting to stop! Suffice it to say, I finished reading this book in less than 24 hours.

I have to say though, I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more than the second half.

It started out perfectly with Alex Flinn giving us a brief histor...more This story was such an easy read that captivated me from the start. I had started off reading this story just before dinner, and thought I would just read a couple of chapters while I waited for dinner to be ready, but instead found myself reading and not wanting to stop! Suffice it to say, I finished reading this book in less than 24 hours.

I have to say though, I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more than the second half.

It started out perfectly with Alex Flinn giving us a brief historical background on how Princess Talia came to be the "Sleeping Beauty" and the circumstances that led up to it. Followed by a brief background on how Jack from the 21st century, came to be prince charming, who found this sleeping princess and kissed her awake - when he was anything but! Followed by their journey together, when Talia decides she has to leave after upsetting her Father, who feels betrayed by his spoiled daughter who could not stay away from the spindle even though it was the only thing they ever asked of her. Talia runs away with Jack, to get away from her Father's anger, but also because she believes that he is her true love, and destiny brought them together - albeit 300 years late. Jack, feeling responsible for her, allows her to tag along not knowing what else to do. He takes her back to Miami, his hometown, to stay with him and his family - which shocks his parents to no end, and from there, their adventure begins.

I loved the spin-off to the ancient fairytale "Sleeping Beauty", and I found a lot of it hilarious. Imagine two centuries colliding and clashing, and you will know what I'm talking about. A 17 year old guy from the 21st century and a 16 year old princess from the 17th century - let's just say, the dialogue was hilarious. I particularly loved the part where Jack made the King listen to "Yesterday" for the Beatles on his iPod, and the King then quoting the song back to his daughter.

The only thing I did not like, and why I said I enjoyed the first half more than the second half is because somewhere throughout that whole pool party confusion with Amber and Talia and Robert and lots of alcohol, Jack seems to suddenly realise he is over Amber and is falling in love with Talia. And it was very unclear to me. And very abrupt. And sudden. And almost made no sense. One minute he's complaining about her, the next minute he seems to be in love with her - I don't know, could be just me, but I thought the moment he realises his true feelings for her would be a little more profound. Not to mention that one minute Amber is a huge part of his life, the next moment she is gone and he is completely over her that we never see her again. It seems a little immature honestly, and the fact that he IS 17 years old, but is supposed to be this 316 year old princess's destiny makes me want him to live up to these expectations.

The ending was also a little disappointing. I think Flinn is a great writer, who has a solid understanding of both worlds and manages to share those with us brilliantly. But also one who can relate to both ordinary guy and extraordinary girl and make them connect with the reader. Not to mention that she has an incredible sense of humour that left me laughing out loud throughout the book.

What I feel was lacking however, is the emotional intensity. With Jack climbing that hill, and trying to save the princess and having them reunite and so on, I expected the emotional intensity to be out of this world. It wasn't though. So that for me was a little disappointing, and hence, 4 stars.

All in all, this is a story worth reading. You don't find a retelling of a common, popular fairytale in this form everyday. It is magical, yet real. And that, I think, is the secret to its success. (less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Camila rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: beautiful-cover, bitches-be-bitching, characters-with-accents, curses, cute-love-story, different-country, had-me-lol-ing, here-be-dragons, kings-prince-ss-lords-knights-pesan, magick, mythical-creatures, page-turner, prophecie-s, quick-read, re-tellings, what-to-bitch-slap, you-arrogant-prick, you-annoy-me, you-are-a-conceited-little-brat, got-sucked-in

This story is a re-telling of The Sleeping Beauty, in wich Talia is Aurora and Jack is "Prince Charming", though Jack is not a prince and many belive he is not Talia´s true love, but then, how could he wake her?

I liked the story, but I can´t say I love it or that I want Jack to be mine (wich for me is a pretty big star-rating factor).

At first I was really disappointed in this. My brain was like "why? why?WHY?" when I was readying the first 50-100 pages of the book because of both, Talia and Jack...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Alex rated it 1 of 5 stars

I bought this book at Half Price Books and the only reason I bought it was because I heard about my friend reading it around finals before she came home for the summer and it was good.

I like the idea behind the story of this book. I think it’s a nice twist on the Sleeping Beauty story. I thought how Flinn made a princess from the past come to the future, with the use of magic. It was interesting seeing the princess adjust to modern time and how the concept of beauty changes over time as well.

Wh...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Melody47 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys classic fairytales. A Kiss In Time is a classic sleeping beauty story, with a little modern twist. A princess named Talia was put under a spell by a witch named Malvolia, Talia’s destiny was to touch a spindle before she turned sixteen. Once she does than Talia and the rest of the kingdom will sleep forever until Talia is awakened by a true love’s kiss.
Three hundred and sixty-five years later, Jack woke Talia up with a magical kiss! Talia’s fathe...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like Beastly or the movie Enchanted

Recommended to Carrie by: a devastatingly nice librarian

Shelves: reviewed

I probably would never have read this book, if not for a librarian who forced it upon me. (I'll explain.) Honestly, it was because of the title. And the cover wasn't helping much either. But one day, I was at the library, and this librarian (who's really nice, she didn't actually FORCE me to read it) found out that I really liked other books by Alex Flinn, Beastly and Bewitching. Anyway, she recommended this book, which I had seen before, and never particularly wanted to read. So I smiled and no...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review originally posted at Books Worth Remembering

This was my first time reading an Alex Flinn book, I’d watched the film Beastly and thought it was a great retelling and so when I saw A Kiss in Time in the library I jumped at the chance to read it.

One of my favourite things in narrative style is alternating perspectives, which A Kiss in Time has. Talia’s narrative voice was distinct and unique, with her more medevial perspective of the world – I loved when she described modern technology or cl...more Review originally posted at Books Worth Remembering

This was my first time reading an Alex Flinn book, I’d watched the film Beastly and thought it was a great retelling and so when I saw A Kiss in Time in the library I jumped at the chance to read it.

One of my favourite things in narrative style is alternating perspectives, which A Kiss in Time has. Talia’s narrative voice was distinct and unique, with her more medevial perspective of the world – I loved when she described modern technology or clothes such as a mobile or a t –shirt, while it was funny it gave you a greater insight into Talia’s life; showing the modern day life through a medieval lens. This was juxtaposed with Jack’s perspective, who speaks they way the reader does which I thought was extremely clever. However, both Talia and Jack’s voices were quite grating at times. Talia being a spoilt princess and Jack seemed immature and insensitive and I wasn’t too keen on him. Despite this the characters had a great progression and their relationship began to develop naturally and both became better people by the end of the book.

I loved how modern retellings give so much more depth into beloved characters that make their actions seem plausible and enjoyable to read. I loved the how the witch was presented and the methods she used to trap Talia, both in the past and present; also when Jack tries to save Talia and has to tackle all the obstacles set in his way - I thought this was the best presentation of his character development.

My main problem with the story was the plot, the pace was quite slow and the beginning, Jack discovering Talia and kissing her awake (something as readers we know has to happen) took quite a long time to occur; I find that more time could have been spent on other parts if this hadn’t taken so long. Also due to Talia’s archaic perspective of the world her opinions on some things annoyed me – such as she believed women shouldn’t be judges (whilst watching Judge Judy) but I understand that the time in which Talia was from this was the norm – what annoyed me most was that Jack agreed with her that women have a ‘warped sense of judgement’. I kid you not. And you wonder why I didn’t like him?

All of this was probably the reason it took me a little while to get into and read A Kiss in Time but however once you get into it is an easy read. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves great fairytale retellings set in the modern day.(less)

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May 15, 2012 Celina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chose this book because it was written by Alex Flinn who is an amazing author. Talia is a princess living in the 1700's who has a dark curse and Jack is a 21st century boy who wants nothing but to torture his parents. What would happen when their worlds collide with the help of a spindle and a witch. “Listen.” The voice is extremely loud, and I am forced to hold the telephone away from my ear.
“I don’t know who you are, or why you have Jack’s phone, but he is my boyfriend, and—”
Boyfriend? What...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Sammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-reality, fluffy, favorites, medieval

I love this book, it's perfect! The only thing I don't like is there were at least three chapter 1s. Talia, Jack, then Talia and Jack, I think it's actually Jack and Talia but basically the same thing.
Talia is portrayed incredibly well as a clever yet confused girl, having woken up in the 21st century after 300 years being asleep. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Anastasia (At Bookish) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've read Alex Flinn's Beastly and I loved it - this was no different! (My love for it, I mean. Not the actual book.)

This book was split into three parts: part 1 Talia, part 2 Jack, part 3 Talia and Jack. Meaning, the first part was told in all Talia's point of view, the second part was told from Jack's POV, and the third part did every other chapter - Talia, Jack, Talia, Jack. I actually really liked this format, being able to see both character's perspectives on things - from their initial r...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Michelle added it

Michelle Kwait
Modern Fantasy

(SPOILER ALERT)

Summary:

Princess Talia of Euphrasia is cursed by the witch Malvolia-- and when she touches a spindle before her 16th birthday, she and her entire kingdom descend into sleep. Awoken by true love's kiss 300 years later in the 20th century, she finds the entire world has changed around her kingdom, and that prince charming may not be everything she hoped for. In fact, Jack is self-admittedly lazy and bored, fresh out of a break-up, and stumbles upon Talia...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Johanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Kiss in Time
by Alex Flinn

Genre: Fairy Tale / Paranormal Romance / Young Adult

An agreeable, fluffy expansion of "Sleeping Beauty," this novel conflates the traditional story with that of an American teenage boy. Talia (the princess) has the world's most overprotective parents—not without reason, of course. Seventeen-year-old Jack's parents think about him only when they are criticizing him. When he awakens Talia with a kiss, she is thrust more than 300 years into a future in the 21st century....more

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Jan 04, 2012 Charlotte Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-to-z-challenge

Well out of all her books, this has to be my favorite one. It is based on the tale of sleeping beauty and yet it has been twisted into a modern conception which you would only imagine to happen. I loved the story and the way this piece was worded and put together because it was evident that a lot of imagination was taken and used to form this write. What I liked was the way in which the princess was shown and painted within the readers mind. In the Disney version she is pretty, sweet and conside...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Kim Miner rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

Not a bad little fairytale reimagining. There are a lot of problems with Sleeping Beauty as a story in general. A sentence of death of an innocent child for the mere offense of not being invited to a party is a hard to swallow villain motivation. Our heroine does nothing but fails not to touch a spindle and fall asleep. Our hero does nothing but kiss her and whisk her away into a marriage that a modern audience can hardly accept as having a possibility for "happiness."

Flinn fixes all of these th...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was on display next to a book I wanted. I picked this solely for its cover, and was happy to find it to be very entertaining.

It is a modern tale of Sleeping Beauty (well, modern in that it ends now, it started 300 years ago when Princess Talia pricked her finger on a spindle and her father's kingdom was put to sleep awaiting Talia's "true love's kiss").

This snippet from the jacket gives you a taste of the characters:

Talia fell under a spell...Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Cemara Dinda (Me and the Bookshelf Life) rated it 4 of 5 stars

So I knew the story sounds familiar when I read the back of the review. I followed along with the story and Alex Flinn really did put her thought with the twists and turns in the book. First of all, there's Princess Talia. She is a princess living in the sixteenth century in a kingdom called Euphrasia. Her whole life, she's been protected from a curse set upon her by an evil witch called Malvolia. It is set that on her 16th birthday, she would prick her finger on a spindle. So ever since she was...more So I knew the story sounds familiar when I read the back of the review. I followed along with the story and Alex Flinn really did put her thought with the twists and turns in the book. First of all, there's Princess Talia. She is a princess living in the sixteenth century in a kingdom called Euphrasia. Her whole life, she's been protected from a curse set upon her by an evil witch called Malvolia. It is set that on her 16th birthday, she would prick her finger on a spindle. So ever since she was a baby, she was taught about the spindle and it was actually the first word she had learned. When she pricked her finger, she would fall into a deep slumber and her whole kingdom too. They can only be awakened by a true love's kiss. Yeah, you know the story right?

Then one day the story jumps into the modern age, and we find Jack O'Neill. He's on his summer vacation in Europe. He gets totally bored one day of all the museums and other sites. He and his friend Travis decided to sneak out of the tour to have their own fun at a nearby beach. They ask help from a quirky salesperson and they find themselves in the woods of Belgium. They went through the bushes and the brambles, and they see a community with a large castle that looks like a historical tourist attraction. They noticed that all the people were asleep. Then while exploring, they make their way into the castle and Jack finds himself drawn to this sleeping, and beautiful girl which is, of course Talia. He kisses her and he awakens the whole kingdom.

Jack and Travis is then arrested because they have addressed the princess agressively. Then Talia finds herself attracted to Jack feels sorry for him. And yet she also felt the guilt because she pricked herself on the spindle and she's the whole reason her kingdom has been asleep for 300 years. She gets Jack out of the dungeon and they ran away. Now Jack took care of her while they planned to go back to his home in Florida. But during the journey they can't help but get on each other's nerves, bickering and all that. And what with Talia and her quirky and funny sixteenth century acts. He introduced her to his parents and sister, they didn't like Talia at first but then she won over them and they slowly become fond of her. Not only that, but Talia and Jack's relationship undoubtedly blossoms to something more.

But things aren't always so sweet. Malvolia is back and she really wants to cause some trouble. So, she kidnaps Talia. Jack has to save her and find happiness for both of them.

This book was very pleasant and again, I adored the little twists that are put in the story. It is told in dual perspectives between Jack and Talia. It was really enjoyable getting to know these two characters in the book. Alex Flinn was very astounding in blending the medieval and modern touches together and it wasn't any trouble for me. There is definitely a lot of humor in this book and it could be seen in the relationship of Jack and Talia in the book. The whole love-hate act and the fact that these two individuals are separated by centuries, which create some funny moments. The flow of the book went really well, although there were some bits and pieces where it kind of went on. The adventures and experiences that Jack and Talia went through helped them to understand not only each other, but themselves as individuals. A very pleasant and funny read.

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Do check out my blog fore more reviews! :D http://thebookshelflife.blogspot.com (less)

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Oct 10, 2011 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This Sleeping Beauty story takes place in modern times. Or, well, continues -- three hundred years after it begins -- in modern times. I like the bits of reality given to the story. It's a made-up place but situated in real geography. There's a nod to the traditional tale in Talia's second name, Aurora. No Prince Charming (or Desire), Jack's just looking for something not boring to do when he stumbles through the thick brambles that surround the sleeping country. He kisses Talia and everyone wak...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a

3 and a half stars.

This was a fun read. Everything about it was okay. It's one of those books that you can easily get sucked into. Which can be nice now and then. It's not exactly that memorable though. It's just fun, a little bit cute and sweet.

It doesn't have tons of depth. It's a standard romantic tale. In fact, it's based on the tale of "Sleeping Beauty" but set in the present. Talia is a princess who has been told her whole life that she cannot touch a spindle and on the day before her 16t...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Arinda's teacher recommended this book to the students in her junior high popular literature class. I liked most of it. There were some nice comments on our society. I think the author was trying so hard to make the character dynamic--changing them for the better--that the changes didn't seem natural or believable. Jack is the hero who is a real jerk and only discovers Princess Talia because he is skipping out on the tour. Talia is a real brat who is unkind to so many people and only wants to le...more Arinda's teacher recommended this book to the students in her junior high popular literature class. I liked most of it. There were some nice comments on our society. I think the author was trying so hard to make the character dynamic--changing them for the better--that the changes didn't seem natural or believable. Jack is the hero who is a real jerk and only discovers Princess Talia because he is skipping out on the tour. Talia is a real brat who is unkind to so many people and only wants to leave home. The parents of both Princess Talia and Jack are incredibly unsympathetic. Jack's parents don't even pick him up from the airport when he returns home and the readers are supposed to buy that they are concerned about their son and want what's best for him. They don't even know him or care for him in any physical ways. Suddenly, Talia is concerned about others and Jack's parents are loving and kind. It was a bit of a stretch.

The biggest problem I had was the party at someone's house with no parents and lots of alcohol! I know this happens in many teens lives, but this book promotes this behavior instead of discouraging it. I'm sure the author thought it was life imitating art, but I tend to believe it's like smoking in movies--promoting the behavior as normal instead of showing some very real consequences. Talia had three beers and three or more jello shots and somehow she was only a little tipsy? I'm sure she would have been completely gone and possibly needing to be treated for alcohol poisoning. Not the mention almost getting molested--and there were no real consequences for the drinking. No throwing up. Just a nice pleasant sleepiness. Again, not reality. Plus, with all the binge drinking happening at college campuses around the country, we don't need books about 16 year-olds binge drinking and having no consequences. Too many people have lost lives doing exactly what Jack and Talia did.

SPOILER ALERT: The book ends in a happily-ever-after way that all fairy tales should end. The characters are somehow worthwhile and positive. Still, it was really hard to believe that somehow everyone is magically transformed into good, caring parents and non-rebellious teens who aren't getting drunk at illegal parties.

Three stars is generous, but it is probably okay with my cautions to discuss with your teen if they read it. (less)

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Sep 01, 2011 Katieeoh Lacanlale rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, engrossing, romance

If you are a big fan of Beastly, which is made also by Alex Flinn, then you would love this another great book of hers. I just read this overnight and I think its the first time I read that fast, or maybe its because the book isn’t that thick at all. I love this book, I’ll rate it 5 stars. I’m a big fan of fairytale stories since I was little, like I re watch all Disney princesses movies all the time and now that I’m older, I watch it again! Sometimes with my little cousins who loves and adores...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Daniel Osborn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What an amazing book. I didn't know if I'd like it or not but, turns out a really good love story. Of course this is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Talia (beauty) is suggested by an evil fairy that she will die at a prick of a spindle at the age of 16. Of course her parents try and keep her away from spindles and every sharp object known to man. One afternoon while at the tailors shopping for a dress for her 16th birthday, she wanders off into an unkown room that she's ne...more What an amazing book. I didn't know if I'd like it or not but, turns out a really good love story. Of course this is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Talia (beauty) is suggested by an evil fairy that she will die at a prick of a spindle at the age of 16. Of course her parents try and keep her away from spindles and every sharp object known to man. One afternoon while at the tailors shopping for a dress for her 16th birthday, she wanders off into an unkown room that she's never been in at the castle. There she meets an old woman who is sewing. Of course Talia wants one of the dresses that she is sewing. When the evil fairy asks if she wants to try and spin herself and she said yes. Of course she pricks herself and falls asleep.

Now one thing about this retelling that instead of beauty (Talia) sleeping for 100 yrs. she sleeps for 300 yrs. and thus is 316 yrs young when she is awakened.

Present time 21st century. We find two people Jack and Travis who are on a tour and a trip of a lifetime in Europe. Jack wants to go to a beach and see European girls. The bus doesn't get to the hotel until 9:30 a.m. which will be late as they will be touring more museums that day. They instead roam around and find themselves in Euphrasia in a kingdom where everyone is asleep. Of course they go searching and Jack finds Talia. He kisses her and she awakes.

When she awakes she knows that she is supposed to marry him. He however doesn't have any intention of marrying her after all he did just kiss her and wake her up. It kind of goes with the territory right? When Talia tells everyone in the kingdom what happens, her father is in a rage blaming her for everything that happens and locks Jack in a cell. Talia doesn't want to be at the kingdom any longer and so helps Jack escape and wants him to take her with him. Jack takes Talia to America.

Talia isi finding it hard to survive in the 21st century. They end up at a party where she gets drunk and nearly drowns. Jack saves her. The family doesn't like her at first. Than news breaks out on the a king in Belgium is looking for his daughter. When the family finds out that she is an heir to the throne they are worried Jack kidnapped her. When they try to enter Jacks room where Talia is she is gone. The evil fairy comes back and takes her away. We find out that she has to be kissed by her true love and Jack at first wasn't. Jack and his father go to Euphrasia and find Talia and they end up happily ever after.

I so have to get Beastly now.(less)

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Should I read it?	18	40	Mar 11, 2013 02:07pm
Fairy Tales, Kind...: A Kiss in Time	1	1	Feb 17, 2013 09:32am
Who would YOU rather be? Jack Or Talia?	3	6	Feb 10, 2013 09:33pm
Who would YOU rather be? Jack Or Talia?	14	55	Feb 10, 2013 09:32pm
Who would YOU rather be? Jack Or Talia?	3	8	Feb 10, 2013 09:31pm

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About Alex Flinn

I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

I learned to read early. But...more I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

I learned to read early. But I compensated for this early proficiency by absolutely refusing to read the programmed readers required by the school system -- workbooks where you read the story, then answered the questions. When the other kids were on Book 20, I was on Book 1! My teacher, Mrs. Zeiser, told my mother, "Alexandra marches to her own drummer." I don't think that was supposed to be a good thing. Now, when my daughter, Katie, brings home FCAT prep materials where you are supposed to read a passage and answer questions, I want to ask the teacher, "Does she really need to do this? She can read!!!"

My family moved to Miami when I was in middle school. I had a really hard time making friends, so I spent a lot of time reading and writing then. But unlike Christopher Paolini or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, I never finished writing a novel. That was also when I learned to be a keen observer. By high school, I'd made some friends and gotten involved in various "gifted and talented" performing arts programs. I studied opera in college (I'm a coloratura -- the really loud, high-pitched sopranos.) and then went to law school.

It was law school that probably helped with my first novel. Breathing Underwater deals with the serious and all-too-common problem of dating violence. I based the book on my experiences interning with the State Attorney's Office and volunteering with battered women. I thought this was a really important topic, as 27 percent of teenage girls surveyed have been hit by a boyfriend. I'm happy that the book is so popular, and if you are reading this bio because the book was assigned for school, I'm happy about that too.

I started writing an early (and laughable) version of Breathing Underwater in college (I was really bored on a car trip with my parents). I didn't get back to it until I had my first daughter, Katie. I'm self-taught. I went to the library and took out books on writing. Then, I read a lot of young-adult novels by writers I admired, particularly Richard Peck. Reading his books is like listening to Mozart -- you learn the right way to write a novel. Then, you fill in your own style. I actually got to meet Richard Peck in person at a workshop of the Key West Literary Seminar. Lots of writers have been really helpful to me, especially Richard and fellow YA author, Joyce Sweeney.

I think I write for young-adults because I never quite got over being one. In my mind, I am still 13-years-old, running laps on the athletic field, wearing this really baggy white gymsuit. I'm continually amazed at the idea that I have a checking account and a mortgage. So I try to write books that gymsuit girl might enjoy. It's a way of going back to being 13...knowing what I know now.
Right now, I live half a mile away from my old middle school, in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami, with my husband, Gene, and daughters, Katie and Meredith. (less)

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Breathing Underwater (Breathing Underwater #1)

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Trivia About A Kiss in Time

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Quotes from A Kiss in Time

“Listen.” The voice is extremely loud, and I am forced to hold the telephone away from my ear.
“I don’t know who you are, or why you have Jack’s phone, but he is my boyfriend, and—”
Boyfriend? What is a boyfriend? Perhaps it is something like a beau.
“Is he engaged to you, then?” I hope not.
“What? No. Of course not.”
“Oh, what a relief. He is my true love, and you do not sound very nice.”
“What? Listen, you . . .”
And then, strangely enough, she calls me a female dog.” — 82 people liked it

“Your telephone! Your friend Travis is in it!” — 46 people liked it

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A Kiss in Time

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